The Process of Recovering from Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

The authors describe the process of recovering from anorexia nervosa as it is revealed by 13 women who have recovered from the illness. Emphasizing the patient's perspective, the paper reviews the perceived causes of the disorder, helpful and harmful therapy-related and life experiences, features hardest to change, the defensive function of anorexia nervosa and residual traits. Generally, the movement toward health entails forming a therapeutic relationship in which the anorexic can identify and express feelings, experience the empathic, nonjudgmental understanding of another person, separate from a pathological family system, resolve hostile dependent attachment to parents, assuage primitive guilt, and engage in the trials of adolescent psychosexual development to enter adulthood with the beginnings of a firm, cohesive sense of self.

Treatment perception in adolescent onset anorexia nervosa: Retrospective views of patients and parents

“…[26][27][28][29] Other important factors may include support from family, contact with friends, engagement in activities that help the child focus on something other than the ED, and experiences that improve self-esteem. It is important that those who plan and conduct treatment of young patients with AN know what clients and parents regard as helpful.…”

Becoming ‘whole’ again: A qualitative study of women's views of recovering from anorexia nervosa

“…Previous research into recovering from AN has predominantly focused on defining the recovery from AN the patient perspective [1][2][3][4][5][6] and looked at predictors of recovery using quantitative criteria such as length of treatment and follow up or age at onset [7][8][9] with mixed results.…”

“…In addition, previous qualitative studies draw attention to recovery being a relational process that occurs in the context of close and supportive relationships [1][2][3][4][5] Some authors found that treatment did not facilitate recovery [2][3] , which indicates that processes outside therapy play an important part in recovery.…”

“…1,22 It has been also argued that recovery is "a unique and subjective process" 23 , which entails integrating illness into one's self-concept, learning to manage one's self and reclaiming the self by taking control over one's life. Therefore, to learn about predictors of recovery, it seems invaluable to explore what patients with AN regard as instrumental for their recovery.…”

Towards a Comprehensive Model of Recovery

“…Geller & Drab, 1999;Serpell et al, 1999;2004) of patient's accounts of ambivalence to change and recovery have focused on the initial phases of illness. Here, ambivalence may be related to experiences of immediate benefits and rewards, a low recognition of longer term costs and burdens, fear of loosing benefits as well as rather unrealistic expectations about life without the eating disorder (Beresin et al, 1989;Nilsson & Hägglöf, 2006).…”